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‘Maybe we are being too nice’ says Wada about salbutamol usageInhaler (CC licensed by Ben Dalton on Flickr)

‘Maybe we are being too nice’ says Wada about salbutamol usage

Suggestion that threshold for legal usage could be reduced
by Alex Bowden
Sat, Jul 14, 2018 16:07
40

In the wake of the Chris Froome case, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) director general, Olivier Niggli, has suggested that the body could reduce the amount of salbutamol athletes are permitted to take. “Maybe the weakness in the system is that we are being too nice,” he told the Guardian.

Athletes are allowed a maximum of 1600 micrograms of salbutamol over 24 hours, with no more than 800mg in a 12-hour period.

Froome’s test at last year’s Vuelta a Espana suggested he had taken more than this, but after assessing the evidence Wada eventually concluded that the result was, “not inconsistent with therapeutic dosages.”

Questions have consequently been raised about the accuracy of the salbutamol test and Ken Fitch, the sports scientist responsible for Wada’s salbutamol regulations, has been among those pressing Wada to change its rules.

Wada responded to the criticism earlier this week by defending the test, pointing out that breaching the threshold does not constitute a failed test, but is instead merely a trigger for further investigation.

“Unlike most substances, given the variables that exist with salbutamol depending on conditions specific to each case, the rule is designed to afford athletes found to have exceeded the threshold with the opportunity to prove how it has occurred and justify proper therapeutic use.”

But while the test is likely to remain the same, Niggli suggests that Wada may reduce the amount of salbutamol athletes are permitted to take before needing a therapeutic use exemption (TUE).

“Maybe the finger is being pointed in the wrong direction – and maybe what needs to be done is to point the finger at how much we allow athletes to take and maybe be more restrictive,” he said.

“Maybe we need to be tougher and say: ‘You are going to have to take less, otherwise you need a TUE.’”

Wada’s director of science, Dr Olivier Rabin, said that the current 800mg per 12-hour limit could be considerably reduced.

“It is certainly a question we need to raise,” he said. “Some asthma experts say we should reduce it to 500 or 600. I think it is important to allow some dosage which are used by the vast majority of athletes – maybe 200 to 400 per day – but the point we are debating is very legitimate.”

wada
salbutamol
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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40 comments

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 5 years ago
1 like

My salbutamol dispenser says that it is suitable for 200 doses. It wouldn't be that difficilt to put a counter on the dispenser, or manufacture dispensers with limited doses. Job done. Get around that cheating bastards! We won't have to go through this piss take again.

Avatar
tonyleatham replied to don simon fbpe | 5 years ago
2 likes

don simon wrote:

My salbutamol dispenser says that it is suitable for 200 doses. It wouldn't be that difficilt to put a counter on the dispenser, or manufacture dispensers with limited doses. Job done. Get around that cheating bastards! We won't have to go through this piss take again.

I guess it hasn't occurred to you that they could have more than one inhaler?

And just to be contrary, as a long time (30 plus years) user of a salbutamol inhaler, I can relate my personal experience which is that when used in this form it does not increase my lung capacity - it relieves the symptoms of asthma when I have an attack. 

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to tonyleatham | 5 years ago
1 like
tonyleatham wrote:

don simon wrote:

My salbutamol dispenser says that it is suitable for 200 doses. It wouldn't be that difficilt to put a counter on the dispenser, or manufacture dispensers with limited doses. Job done. Get around that cheating bastards! We won't have to go through this piss take again.

I guess it hasn't occurred to you that they could have more than one inhaler?

Obviously the teams would have to keep meticulous records...

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds | 5 years ago
3 likes

lol, typical reaction by an organisation under pressure. Instead of coming up with a useful and constructive response they've outed themselves as rank amateurs.

Avatar
Pitbull Steelers | 5 years ago
4 likes

The whole testing system for salbutamol needs to be ripped up and started again.

For me reducing the limit is not the answer as all it will do is affect those who really need salbutamol and will ultimately be a disadvantage to them against those who dont. We need a level playing field for all. 

If i was a betting man i would put my pension on the person who leaked the Froome test as having a French background, or am i being too cynical.......

Avatar
sammutd88 replied to Pitbull Steelers | 5 years ago
4 likes

Pitbull Steelers wrote:

The whole testing system for salbutamol needs to be ripped up and started again.

For me reducing the limit is not the answer as all it will do is affect those who really need salbutamol and will ultimately be a disadvantage to them against those who dont. We need a level playing field for all. 

If i was a betting man i would put my pension on the person who leaked the Froome test as having a French background, or am i being too cynical.......

 

Or on the flipside, the scientist who made "grave errors" in the handling and testing of the sample may be retired on his 100 foot yacht, courtesy of a donation from the Sky. We will never know......

Avatar
EddyBerckx replied to sammutd88 | 5 years ago
6 likes
sammutd88 wrote:

Pitbull Steelers wrote:

The whole testing system for salbutamol needs to be ripped up and started again.

For me reducing the limit is not the answer as all it will do is affect those who really need salbutamol and will ultimately be a disadvantage to them against those who dont. We need a level playing field for all. 

If i was a betting man i would put my pension on the person who leaked the Froome test as having a French background, or am i being too cynical.......

 

Or on the flipside, the scientist who made "grave errors" in the handling and testing of the sample may be retired on his 100 foot yacht, courtesy of a donation from the Sky. We will never know......

...except he warned wada years ago and was ignored...

Avatar
Beecho replied to sammutd88 | 5 years ago
1 like

sammutd88 wrote:

Pitbull Steelers wrote:

The whole testing system for salbutamol needs to be ripped up and started again.

For me reducing the limit is not the answer as all it will do is affect those who really need salbutamol and will ultimately be a disadvantage to them against those who dont. We need a level playing field for all. 

If i was a betting man i would put my pension on the person who leaked the Froome test as having a French background, or am i being too cynical.......

 

Or on the flipside, the scientist who made "grave errors" in the handling and testing of the sample may be retired on his 100 foot yacht, courtesy of a donation from the Sky. We will never know......

Did you work on Trump’s election campaign?

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 5 years ago
5 likes

They have massively fucked up and now are trying to cover themselves.

How can an organisation that EVERYBODY should be behind making such mistakes thus making people question them? How was Froomes test leaked? Would this happen to a French cyclist? Why not?

They need to start cleaning themselves up asap...And start listening to the experts that advise them!!

Avatar
cdamian | 5 years ago
1 like

Yes, let's reduce it and then just ignore it like we do now.

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